Curated by: The Western Nevada Development District…
This edition of Five for Friday focuses on opportunities for economic development around the region in the areas of energy, small business, Brownfields, agriculture and the environment.
Financing for Tribal Energy Projects
The U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office supports Tribal investment in developing, constructing or acquiring an eligible energy development project by providing direct loans or partial loan guarantees. Projects may be on or off Tribal lands. Borrowers must be Tribes of Tribal Energy Development Organizations.
Energy Technology Includes:
• Electricity generation, transmission and/or distribution facilities, utilizing renewable or conventional energy sources
• Energy storage facilities (batteries)
• Energy transportation facilities
• District heating and cooling facilities
• Cogeneration facilities
Application Deadline: August 31, 2028
Business Expo Season is Here!
Small business owners in Reno-Sparks and in the City of Fernley should not miss the opportunity to gain important information from federal, state, local public entities, and non-profits that can help with a new business venture, business operations, job training, and business success.
Two Business Expos Available:
• Thursday, May 8, 2025: Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce – Biggest Business Expo & Career Fair
Hosted by the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, the event is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Reno Sparks Convention Center from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
• Saturday, May 10, 2025: Business EXPO 2025
The City of Fernley and the Fernley Chamber of Commerce are hosting the annual Business EXPO, providing a networking and marketing event for all local businesses.
The Expo will be at the Fernley City Hall from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
More Info Reno-Sparks Expo & Career Fair
New Dates! Building a Brownfields Program: EPA’s Vacant to Vibrant Webinar Series
Ready to turn vacant spaces into thriving community hubs? Join the Center For Creative Land Recycling and EPA Region 9 staff for a three-part Vacant to Vibrant webinar series on brownfield revitalization for beginners! Learn about the world of brownfields by breaking down key terms, examining program structures, and exploring the resources you need to kick off a successful redevelopment program.
The webinar series will explore how to engage your community effectively, from visioning meetings to navigating diverse opinions. To wrap up, programming will dive into the funding game by exploring key characteristics of grant applications, and strategies for building valuable partnerships to get projects off the ground.
Webinar Series Starts: Wednesday May 7, 2025
Center for Creative Land Recycling
Kubota Hometown Proud 2025 Applications Now Open
Kubota’s Hometown Proud community grant program will invest in communities across the country by awarding 10 grants in 2025. Each grant is valued at $50,000 ($25,000 cash and $25,000 equipment voucher). Kubota will announce the 10 winning hometown projects on September 1, 2025.
Nonprofit organizations with a community project are encouraged to enter; the application is easy: just fill out the form below and upload a short video! Now in its 5th year, the Kubota Hometown Proud grant program has helped fund various projects across the country, from building agricultural education centers to revitalizing community gardens. These initiatives can make a lasting impact on a local level.
Application Deadline: May 9, 2025
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Grant Program
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water.
Municipal entities, local nonprofits and public schools are eligible to apply to support the planting of fruitful trees which can be planted at community gardens, city and state parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, schools, and other locations where they will serve the greater community. The Foundation provides high-quality trees and shrubs, equipment, on-site orchard design expertise and oversight, horticultural workshops, and aftercare training and manuals.
Application Deadline: Ongoing